Local youth soccer players win national titles

July 31, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 12:28 p.m.

1 of 4

With her back toward her team mates, So Cal Blues - Dido keeper Naomi Willett (31) sobs after a 2-1 overtime loss during the So Cal Blues - Dido vs. NASA 12 Elite II Under-19 championship game at the 2013 US Youth Soccer National Championships at the Overland Park Soccer Complex on Sunday, July 28, 2013 in Overland Park, Kansas. SHANE KEYSER, FOR THE REGISTER

1 of 4

Dylan Struthers, left, celebrates a win in the 2013 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships in Overland Park, Kansas. COURTESY OF, JOHN DORTON

1 of 4

Gage Zerboni led the West Coast FC Under 18 team to a U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship in Overland Park, Kansas on Sunday. COURTESY OF, JOHN DORTON

1 of 4

Absorbing their 2-1 loss, So Cal Blues - Dido Janae Cousineau (11) covered her eyes as the whistle blew to end the second half of overtime during the So Cal Blues - Dido vs. NASA 12 Elite II Under-19 championship game at the 2013 US Youth Soccer National Championships at the Overland Park Soccer Complex on Sunday, July 28, 2013 in Overland Park, Kansas. SHANE KEYSER, FOR THE REGISTER

With her back toward her team mates, So Cal Blues - Dido keeper Naomi Willett (31) sobs after a 2-1 overtime loss during the So Cal Blues - Dido vs. NASA 12 Elite II Under-19 championship game at the 2013 US Youth Soccer National Championships at the Overland Park Soccer Complex on Sunday, July 28, 2013 in Overland Park, Kansas. SHANE KEYSER, FOR THE REGISTER

The 2013 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships at Overland Park Soccer Complex in Kansas City, Kansas, July 23-28 included three teams featuring San Clemente players vying for titles in their age divisions. Here's a rundown of how the locals fared:

West Coast Futbol Club Under 18 Boys

Result: Def. Raiders FC Premier in finals

Local player: Gage Zerboni (San Clemente High, 2013)

It's been Gage Zerboni's year from start to finish. The UCLA-bound striker led San Clemente High to its finest season on record this winter; a campaign that resulted in the CIF-SS Division I title and numerous player of the year accolades for Zerboni.

It was more of the same during the West Coast FC squad's 3-0-1 run to the title, in which Zerboni led the team with three goals, including its only goal in the 1-1 (3-2) win in the finals on Sunday.

"It was awesome; it's hard to describe the feelings and emotions that are there when you go there with your best friends and your brothers," said Zerboni, who has played in the club since the U10 level. "It was just awesome to everyone come together and, obviously, winning the title was icing on the cake."

Zerboni scored the first goal of the match in the 68th minute, but Raiders FC scored an equalizer in the waning minutes of regulation to send it to overtime and ultimately penalty kicks.

"I was praying every single kick – ours and theirs – that something would just go our way," said Zerboni, who was also a member of the West Coast FC U14 team that won a National Championship in 2009. "Someone was looking out for us."

Struthers is a veteran of the reigning CIF-SS Division 1-champion Tritons squad, which also made a run to the Regional finals, but connecting for the match-winning goal in West Coast FC's 1-0 championship win in overtime on Sunday rivals any past highlight of his soccer career.

"It was probably one of the greatest games if my entire life, actually," said Struthers, who scored twice during the team's 3-0-1 run to tie for the team lead. "Just being able to score the winning goal for a National Championship, that just says it all."

Struthers, fellow midfielder Cucuk and Co. battled to a scoreless tie in regulation before Struthers finally broke through in the 95th minute. After tying 1-1 in its first match on July 23, the squad didn't allow another goal for the rest of the tournament.

Sunday's 2-1 overtime loss was the end of the line for a group of girls who have played together in the Blues system for multiple seasons, in some cases, such as Cousineau's, for as many as 10 years.

That run included three appearances in the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships over the last five years, a span that also included three state and Far West Regional titles.

"Having a trip all together again, it was really nice," Cousineau, a midfielder said. "With the loss it was so hard, but it was so fun. It was a good last experience, a last hurrah."

All of the scoring in Sunday's final came in the two-half overtime session, as regulation came down to a grueling defensive stalemate.

"It's really difficult because obviously the whole team is working really hard the entire time defensively, but you have to stay really mentally tough," Willett, the keeper, said. "Overtime was a really rough battle."

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.